Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.167

c6.167

*Brahmapura.*—It is the ancient capital of the Chamba State in the Punjab. It contains three ancient temples of which the largest is of stone and dedicated to Maṇimaheśa, an incarnation of Śiva, the second temple of stone is dedicated to Narasinha or the Lion incarnation of Viṣṇu, and the third, mostly of wood, is dedicated to Lakṣmaṇadevi. According to Cunningham Brahmapura was another name for Vairāṭapaṭṭana. The climate of the place is said to be slightly cold and this also agrees with the position of Vairāṭa. Hiuen Tsang describes the kingdom of Brahmapura as 667 miles in circuit. It must have included the whole of the hilly country between the Alakananda and the Karṇāli rivers.⁷ Brahmapura was also known as Po-lo-lih-mo-pu-lo.⁸ According to Cunningham Brahmapura existed in the districts of Garhwal and Kumaon. In these districts reigned the Katur or Katurī rājās connected with Kortripura of Samudragupta’s Allahabad Pillar Inscription.⁹